Eden Burning

Eden Burning
OriginCheltenham, UK
GenresFolk rock, Christian rock
Years active1989–1996
Websiteedenburning.co.uk

Eden Burning were a popular Christian band from Cheltenham led by Paul Northup. They originally met as members of Charlton Kings Baptist church, and were active within the Christian music community between 1989 and 1996. The band's name refers to the Biblical tale of Garden of Eden burning down after Adam and Eve are banished. Cross Rhythms magazine described them as "pioneers in the evolution and creative development of British music carrying a spiritual message".[1]

The band recorded three studio albums and two EP singles on CD as well as several audio cassette tapes and one video. There was also a live CD album, Smilingly Home, recorded in front of their home crowd at what is now the University of Gloucestershire. Subsequently, to celebrate 30 years of the Christian Greenbelt festival, they released a "Best of" album (The Hatchery 1990 – 1996).

Eden Burning toured extensively around Britain, particularly in the South and Midlands.[2] They appeared at the Cropredy Festival in August 1995.[3]

From January 1994 until Autumn 1996 the band produced nine issues of their newsletter, The Caper, with pictures, interviews and discussions.[4]

All of Eden Burning's studio recordings were made at FFG studios in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury with David Pickering Pick or, for Brink, Mark Turner.[5][6]

Northup later became general manager of Greenbelt Festivals Ltd. The other band members included Charlotte Ayrton, Mike Simpson, Neill Forrest (to 1992), Nive Hall (to 1995), Charlie Ingram (from 1992) and John "Mowf" Mowforth (from 1995).[7][8]

  1. ^ "Eden Burning: Smilingly Home - Eden Burning". Crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  2. ^ "The Caper" Issue 9 Autumn 1996 lists all the gigs.
  3. ^ "Fairport Convention Fansite "Expletive-Delighted!" - Cropredy Programmes". Archived from the original on 19 April 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  4. ^ The Caper – the Official Newsletter/Triflings of Eden Burning, various issues 1994–1996
  5. ^ Eden Burning "The Hatchery 1990–1996" sleeve notes.
  6. ^ "ffg media". Ffgmedia.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  7. ^ Eden Burning "The Hatchery 1990–1996" sleeve notes
  8. ^ The Caper, Issue 9, Autumn 1996.